Protest over ads on cabs

The Fiji Taxi Association says political ads on the rear windscreen of taxis pose a danger and should be removed. Picture: FILE

THE Fiji Taxi Association is opposing the use of political party stickers on the rear windscreens of taxis around the country.

Association general secretary Rishi Ram yesterday wrote to LTA CEO Naisa Tuinaceva and the Commissioner of Police Ben Groenewald for their intervention, claiming the modification to the vehicles were unlawful and dangerous.

Mr Ram said the use of such stickers were not only unlawful under LTA's Act, but an obstruction to drivers and passengers.

"It obstructs the vehicle owner, the driver, and the passengers and causes fog inside the vehicle. And if someone is transporting drugs, they cannot be seen," he said.

Mr Ram said the saga has been ongoing for sometime now with the number of vehicles with such stickers escalating into the hundreds.

"This is completely wrong. Under the LTA Act, we have standards for tinting of cars, a certain amount or percentage of shade should be put up," Mr Ram said.

"We can't have two sets of laws here.

"You cannot have any stickers on vehicles here but here it's everywhere.

"Previously, LTA officers issued traffic infringement notices to all heavily-tinted vehicles but we cannot understand how all these changed overnight."

In response, Mr Tuinaceva said there was nothing wrong with the vehicles having political party stickers on them as vehicles had already been running with advertising and commercial stickers for more than five years.

"The stickers are transparent, there is no obstruction, from outside it looks like a sticker with a picture but from inside it is clear so that's the important thing.

"There is a standard for that, a condition.

"It's the same with the political stickers that are on these vehicles as well."

He said all vehicles with such stickers were complying with the conditions and regulations set out by the authority.

Mr Tuinaceva said the stickers were the latest way of advertising.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said the matter was for vehicle owners and LTA to discuss.

Mr Saneem said in terms of campaigning, there was no restriction on the front windscreen or the rear windscreen.

"The campaign requires a person not to use public places and that is what we can comment on," he said.